DeSantis admin claims abortion rights groups committed petition fraud: Report

Florida’s Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS) released a report Friday accusing several organizations of forging signatures in favor of a new amendment that would overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban.

The state agency issued an initial 348-page report alleging individuals were paid to sign the petition.

Floridians Protecting Freedom and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, among others, co-sponsored the bill known as Amendment 4 by submitting over 900,000 signatures. The organizations said they plan to contest the state’s findings.

OECS claims they discovered discrepancies when reviewing statewide data revealing a significant number of “known” or “suspected fraudsters.” Investigations were then spurred in several counties in which they said they found clear circumstances of fraud.

“This campaign has been run above board and followed state law at every turn,” Lauren Brenzel, campaign director of advocacy organization Yes for 4, said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times about the report. “What we are seeing now is nothing more than dishonest distractions and desperate attempts to silence voters.”

A local state representative agreed with their argument.

“It’s an attempt to mislead and confuse voters about three weeks ahead of an election,” State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D) told the Miami Herald. “They’re sending the report to a lame-duck speaker and Senate president.”

Some have criticized DeSantis for creating OECS two years ago in an effort to crack down on alleged election fraud cited by the GOP after former President Trump’s 2020 loss. 

The Hill has reached out to Floridians Protecting Freedom and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida for comment.